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I keep finding new levels of excitement on my "bright future" barometer. Who knew these things went so high?

Pretty solid analysis over there.

For those who don't want to click over (though it's worth it if you do) the article is a breakdown of how Newton made the correct reads and decisions on a couple of the Panther big plays, including a play where the Bears showed one look pre-snap but mixed it up when the play went off.

Lots to be encouraged by there :)

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Smith caught eight passes for 181 yards against the Bears, including a wide-open 53-yarder that made the Sunday “Gamebreak” highlights. The 53-yard catch was a simple coverage lapse, so it told us little about Newton except that he can hit a receiver who does not have a defender within 20 yards of him.

No, Mr. Sports Journalist, that play told us a LOT. That play told us that under heavy pressure Newton could AVOID the pressure, roll out to the left, find the open receiver as coverage naturally breaks down, throw *against* his natural motion 50 yards downfield, and complete the pass to Smith.

This, to Mr. Sports Journalist, tells us "little".

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No, Mr. Sports Journalist, that play told us a LOT. That play told us that under heavy pressure Newton could AVOID the pressure, roll out to the left, find the open receiver as coverage naturally breaks down, throw *against* his natural motion 50 yards downfield, and complete the pass to Smith.

This, to Mr. Sports Journalist, tells us "little".

I don't think the analyst meant it in a derogatory sense. Despite being a highlight play it's not a play you can gameplan around, and so in the grand scheme of what Cam's accomplishing it is less noteworthy than the more mundane but far more integral and difficult plays he's making right now that lead to consistent drives. It's absolutely awesome that he can make that throw on the run, but you don't want that to be the only throw your QB can make, and happily Cam can do that and much, much more.

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For those who don't want to click over (though it's worth it if you do) the article is a breakdown of how Newton made the correct reads and decisions on a couple of the Panther big plays, including a play where the Bears showed one look pre-snap but mixed it up when the play went off.

Lots to be encouraged by there :)

So, it's telling us that on a couple of his big plays he made a good play? Wow, that's deep.

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That's two deep throws(the other late against GB) he has made to Smith that were flat out incredible IMO. He's not set, but still gets it 50 yards downfield. It's that split second that he doesn't have to take and get completely set that some QBs would have to make(that is, if they escaped the pressure, which is doubtful) that could have given the safety time to recover that makes it special.

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The biggest compliment I can give Newton four weeks into the season is this: the Panthers' offense funnels through him.

Watch a rookie quarterback like Blaine Gabbert or Andy Dalton, and you can see the training wheels on the offense. There are lots of screens, rollout passes to the tight ends, and other plays designed to keep the reads easy and the throws short. They run the same gameplans that backup quarterbacks run, the kind that takes the game out of the quarterback’s hands.

Newton is not running that game-manager, don’t-screw-it-up gameplan.

He throws downfield. He throws past the sticks on third-and-long. He has his custom plays, particularly near the goal line, but those plays are designed to emphasize his talents, not hide his flaws. Newton has thrown some interceptions, he has fumbled, and he has delivered a lot of passes late or a little too high, but that is because he has been good enough to earn the opportunities to make those mistakes instead of handing off and punting.

Newton is on pace to throw for 5,500 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. He is more likely to throw for 4,000 yards, but the touchdown and interception projections appear dead on, with 500 rushing yards to boot. The Panthers will be absolutely thrilled with those numbers, and more importantly, with a quarterback they can trust both on the run and in the pocket.